A tin of homemade cookies gives a Thanksgiving host something sweet to set out after dinner and a small treat to enjoy later. This mix includes familiar chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin-spiced favorites, decorated shapes, and buttery cookies that travel neatly. Some are quick to bake, while a few benefit from chilling, so you can choose a recipe that fits your schedule and bring a thoughtful addition to the holiday table.
Sweet Salted Honey Cookies
A delicate sweet-and-salty finish makes these cookies feel special without being fussy. Sweet Salted Honey Cookies have soft centers sweetened with honey and brown sugar, with flaky salt on top to balance each bite. A hint of cinnamon is optional, so you can keep the flavor simple or add a warm note for the holiday table. The batch takes 52 minutes, including chilling, and yields 12 cookies that fit easily in a small gift tin.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Salted Honey Cookies
Spiced Pumpkin Roll Cookies
The spiraled centers bring a little bakery-window charm to a cookie plate. Spiced Pumpkin Roll Cookies layer vanilla and pumpkin-spice dough into a pinwheel, with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove lending a seasonal aroma. The dough needs a longer chill, so plan before slicing and baking. The full process takes 2 hours and 40 minutes and makes 12 cookies, a pretty choice for a host who likes a handmade treat.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Roll Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Few treats are as recognizable as a chocolate chip cookie, especially when the holiday table is full of new flavors. Chocolate Chip Cookies have a soft, chewy middle and lightly crisp edges, with brown sugar helping keep the centers tender. There is no dough chilling, and the 36-cookie batch takes about 20 minutes, making it practical to bake on Thanksgiving morning. Pack them in a lidded tin for an easy-to-share treat that will be welcome after the meal.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
After-dinner coffee pairs well with the hearty, chewy texture of these cookies. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies bring together pumpkin, cinnamon, and tart dried cranberries, with a soft bite and cozy spice. The dough chills before baking, and the full recipe takes 51 minutes for 12 cookies. Their sturdy texture makes them easy to stack in a small box, so they can travel from your kitchen to the Thanksgiving host’s table.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Cake Cookies
For a dessert lover who reaches for chocolate first, these thick cookies bring a cake-like look to the cookie tin. Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Cake Cookies pair a cocoa-rich base with a smooth chocolate fudge-style frosting; a little espresso powder deepens the chocolate flavor. They take about 25 minutes and make 10 generously sized cookies. Let the frosting set before packing them in a single layer, or tuck parchment between layers for a neat host gift.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Cake Cookies
Football Shaped Cookies
Game-time decorations make these cookies a natural fit for Thanksgiving plans that roll into football. Football Shaped Cookies start with soft chocolate cutout cookies, then get white icing laces for a clear football finish. Their centers stay tender while the edges hold their shape, and the full batch takes about 24 minutes for 18 cookies. Arrange them on a platter or carry them in a flat container so the decorations stay intact.
Get the Recipe: Football Shaped Cookies
Soft Pumpkin Cookies With Pecans
Soft centers and a little crunch make this a pleasing change from crisp holiday cookies. Soft Pumpkin Cookies With Pecans combine pumpkin and warm spice with chopped pecans for contrast in every bite. They bake in about 30 minutes and make 12 cookies, so they are easy to prepare close to the gathering. Their tender texture suits a casual dessert plate, and a close-fitting container helps keep them soft on the trip to the host’s home.
Get the Recipe: Soft Pumpkin Cookies With Pecans
Butter Pecan Cookies
Behind a deep, nutty fragrance is a leisurely holiday bake. Butter Pecan Cookies fold toasted pecans into a brown sugar dough for crisp edges and a rich, buttery center. The dough chills for about four hours, so this is a good make-ahead choice; allow 4 hours and 30 minutes total for 16 cookies. Once cooled, they travel well in a tin and bring a classic flavor to the Thanksgiving dessert spread.
Get the Recipe: Butter Pecan Cookies
Hot Cocoa Cookies
Under a marshmallow-studded top, these cookies have the look of a mug of cocoa in dessert form. Hot Cocoa Cookies use cocoa mix and chocolate chips for a chewy, chocolatey center, with mini marshmallows adding a soft finish. The dough chills for 30 minutes, and the full recipe takes about 1 hour and 11 minutes for 24 cookies. Their familiar flavor makes them a friendly option for a mixed-age party, and they pack neatly after the marshmallows cool.
Get the Recipe: Hot Cocoa Cookies
Copycat Crumbl Caramel Pumpkin Cookies
Bakery-style frosting turns these pumpkin cookies into a special treat for the holiday dessert table. Copycat Crumbl Caramel Pumpkin Cookies pair a spiced pumpkin cookie with cream cheese caramel frosting for a rich, sweet finish. They take about 25 minutes and yield 10 large cookies. Let the topping firm before transporting them in a single layer; the combination of pumpkin spice and caramel makes each one feel right at home among Thanksgiving desserts.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Crumbl Caramel Pumpkin Cookies
Biscoff Sandwich Cookies
Gift tins feel extra special when they hold a filled cookie for the host to open. Biscoff Sandwich Cookies have soft spiced rounds with cookie butter worked into both the dough and creamy center, plus crushed Lotus Biscoff for extra crunch. The recipe takes about 29 minutes and lists 6 servings. They travel neatly once assembled, and their warm spice and smooth filling offer a change of pace from the usual chocolate chip or sugar cookie.
Get the Recipe: Biscoff Sandwich Cookies
Thumb Print Cookie
Jewel-like centers give each cookie a bright spot on a holiday plate. Thumb Print Cookie has a tender, buttery base with a small well filled with jam, such as strawberry or apricot. The 12-cookie batch takes about 24 minutes, and pressing the centers is a simple step to share with a kitchen helper. Arrange the cookies in a shallow tin so the jam stays visible and the delicate edges do not get crushed.
Get the Recipe: Thumb Print Cookie
Shortbread Cookies
With simple shapes and a buttery bite, these cookies are a useful addition to a varied dessert tray. Shortbread Cookies rely on six pantry-friendly ingredients, including butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla, for a crisp, tender texture. The dough can be shaped and sliced, then pricked with a fork before baking; the recipe takes about 42 minutes and yields 16 cookies. Their sturdy edges make them easy to stack in a gift tin alongside more colorful holiday treats.
Get the Recipe: Shortbread Cookies